Saturday, September 29, 2012

This is part of a series of posts dedicated to the immigration story of Debs Webster and his family.Sepia Saturday provides an opportunity for genealogy bloggers to share their family history through photographs.

This week’s Sepia Saturday photo prompt shows a group of boys with sports gear in tow. Something’s missing though…yep, you guessed it. It’s their feet. According to Alan, feet, or the absence of feet, is the theme this week.The photo below fits perfectly with this week’s theme. This is my Grandma Willis Webster. Well, technically, she was my step-grandma. But in every way, she was my grandma because she’s the only grandma I ever knew on my mom’s side.

I love how my Grandpa Debs wrote on the edges of this photograph. Since it’s a little bit hard to read, I’ll tell you what he wrote:

Top ~ She Is Getting

Bottom ~ Ready For The Trip

Left Side ~ In Sao Paulo July 1952

Right Side ~ Casa De Lucy

So, what trip is Grandma Willis getting ready for and who is Lucy? Again, my regular readers my already be familiar with the trip my Grandma Willis was getting ready for.

In July of 1952 my Grandpa Debs Webster and his family, including my mom, immigrated to the U.S.A. from Brazil. I started a series of posts recounting their actual journey HERE.I also wrote a series of posts about how this branch of the Webster family (my Grandpa Debs and his family), who were living in Brazil at the time, made contact again with a relative in the U.S.A. You can read about that HERE.So, just who is Lucy? She was one of my Grandma Willis’ sisters. The photo above shows Grandma Willis at Lucy’s home in July 1952, the same month the Webster family immigrated to the U.S.A. They stopped there for a visit.I’m sure it was wonderful for my Grandma Willis and the rest of the Webster family to visit Willis’ sister Lucy before they immigrated to the U.S.A. It must have been a very difficult thing for the two sisters to say goodbye. Willis did make a visit to Brazil later and my mom thinks that Lucy made a trip to the U.S.A. for a visit as well. Lucy’s mom, Helena, was also immigrating with Grandma Willis and her family. So that must have been even more difficult for Lucy.Moving far away from family is difficult even in today’s world of email, Facebook, Skype, etc. I can’t imagine how unbearable it must have been back then without all of our modern technological conveniences.To see what other Sepia Saturday participants have written this week, click HERE.Thanks for reading!Jana

And I’m not going to try to reinvent the wheel and show you how to use OneNote. Caroline Pointer, as wellas others on YouTube, have already done that.What I do want to share with youtoday is how I put together my weekly Fab Finds posts.Yes, you guessed it. I use OneNoteto help me with these posts. It’s a great organizational tool! I've created several Notebooks for my blog and one of them is called Fab Finds Posts 2012.The Fab Finds Post Notebook is then organized by month. And within each month I've created a page for each weekly post.So, here’sthe process for my Fab Finds posts:As I read posts during the week, I copy and paste the link of the posts I especially liketo the current week's Fab Finds Post page in OneNote.

Then when I’m ready to publishmy Fab Finds post, I go through the list of potential Fab Finds candidates. I click on each link, which then takes me to the author's blog. I could just copy the link from OneNote, but I like to actually revisit the blog first. I then copy the link to Windows Live Writer.

As I go down the list of blog posts in OneNote, I insert a check mark next to the blog postsI’ve transferred to my draft in Windows Live Writer.

Once I’m done, I post the draft to my blog, preview it and then publish the post. Voila!Finishedproduct!

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Sepia Saturday provides an opportunity for genealogy bloggers to share their family history through photographs.Alan from Sepia Saturday has given us several options for our photo prompt today ~ ex-convicts, young boys, striped pajamas, as well as those photos we all have taken which weren’t exactly “picture perfect.”

Kind of like our Sepia Saturday photo above. Notice anything unusual? Yep, the gentlemanis missing his head. Uh Oh! And that was another option we could have gone with. Theinevitable “missing limb photo” from our own photo collections.

Instead of showing you a photo of someone missing their head, I’ve decided to share a photoof someone standing ON their head.
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Jan Albert Iverson

Who is this you ask? This is Jan Albert Iverson, my Dad. I really don’t know just how old he is in this photo, but I would guess he is a rather youngish boy. And I don't knowif he was just being silly or was showing his athleticism (hey mom! look what I can do!).

What I do know is thatI love this photo of my Dad in his youth.

To me it shows Dad's silly side. In many ways he really was a kid at heart. He was a very gooddad to us three kids. Here are a few examples of the special times we kids shared with our dad ~

When my two brothers and I were little kids, he would take us to the park on Saturday mornings. He had made a parachute out of silky fabric and attached a heavy metal washer to the ends of the strings. He would throw it high into the air and we kids delightedly watched as it would gently float toward the ground.

When we were little kids, our family owned a green 1964 Volkswagen Bug. Remember those? On occasion, my Dad and Mom would gather us kids together and we would all pile into our green VW Bug and drive over to A&W to get Papa, Mama and Baby Burgers and frosty mugs of root beer. Then we would head over to the drive-in to watch a movie. Fun times!

My Dad loved football and I remember sitting on the couch in front of the TV watching football games with him. Ya, I still love football!

My Dad was a loving husband and father, a computer programmer by profession, and a genealogist/family historian as well.

Thanks for traveling with me down memory lane. And to think all these memories started with a photo of my dad standing on his head!To see what other Sepia Saturday participants have written this week, there’s no need to STANDON ceremony, just HEAD on over to Sepia Saturday.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

This is part of a series of posts dedicated to the immigration story of Debs Webster and his family.Debs and his family are on their way to another fun adventure. They’ve left Mount Rushmore and areheading to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.I don’t know the exact route they took, but here’s what Googlemaps.com showsas a route today.

Googlemaps.comClick to Enlarge

My regular readers may remember that the Webster family bought sleeping bagsand camping equipment touse on their journey across the U.S.A.

They would often stop along the way and use their camping equipment toprepare their meals.

Previous photos of the Webster family eating at picnic tables along their way haven’t included my Grandpa Debs.So this is a really fun photo of the whole family.Hmm, I wonder who took the photo.

My uncle (the little boy seated on the front bench) shared his memories of their trip across the U.S.A. I love what he said about their mealtimes.

“Dinner usually consisted of Campbell’s soup heated over a Sterno stove. If there was a creek nearby, Grandma would wander off to itand usually return with an armload of watercress which we made into a salad (how I wish I had her foraging skills!). Lunches wereusually sandwiches and during the day we would beg for Pop to stop at a root-beer stand so we could get something cold and carbonatedto drink. He didn’t spoil us, but did, on many occasions succumb to our pleadings.”

The Webster family also saw some Bison during their visit to Yellowstone NationalPark.

Here’s anotherinteresting fact ~More visitors are injured by bison than by bears each year at Yellowstone. Park rules state that visitors needto stay at least 25 yards away from bison or elk and 100 yards away from bears.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Sepia Saturday provides an opportunity for genealogy bloggers to share their familyhistory through photographs.

This week’s Sepia Saturday photo prompt shows the grocery section of the Bell and Macaulay'sStore in Drouin, Victoria, Australia. This opens up a myriad of possibilities from whichto choose for today’s theme.I’ve decided to stick with the obvious “food” theme and my Grandpa Debs Webster’sscrapbook has helped me out again. From it’s pages, I found this cute circa 1952vintage postcard to share with you.I’m not sure where my Grandpa Debs bought this postcard, but I find it interesting thatit is from 1952. My regular readers may remember that 1952 is the year Debs and his familyimmigrated to the USA and travelled across the country from New York to their finaldestination of Southern California. So, I’m wondering if he purchased this postcard somewherealong the way.

Elsie and Beauregard

Vintage Postcard circa 1952

Back of Elsie and Beauregard

Vintage Postcard

This postcard features Elsie and Beauregard. Who are they you ask? Elsie has been the symbol for Borden Dairy Productssince 1938. Beauregard is one of her offspring. Elsie has been an amazingly popularadvertising icon for years. She evenhas her own Facebook page! And didyou know that Elsie’s husband, Elmer the Bull, is the mascot for Elmer's Glue?

Elmer's Glue StickWikimedia CommonsPhoto by Mk2012Click to Enlarge

Here’s the transcriptionfrom the back of the postcard (it’sreally quite clever) ~

“Elsie is in her spoolbed and young Beauregard in his corral playpen. The barn colonial boudoir is complete with barrelchair, butter churn lamp and barnyard clock. Elsie’s dressing table, made of a tree trunk, hasa mirror directly above it made from the radiator of a 1910 Ford. Her toiletries includeTail Wave Set, Henna Fur Glaze and Meadow Mud Pack. Beauregard’s rocking horse hasa bridle made of rope and a real western saddle. Elsie’s bookcase contains suchvolumes as, The Farmer With Cold Hands, Animal Husbandry and Bulliver’s Travels.”

And now for your viewing pleasure, I present to you two Borden TV commercials. The first isfrom 1972 and stars both Elsie and Beauregard. The second is from the 1950’s/60’s and stars Elsie.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

This is part of a series of posts dedicated to the immigration story of Debs Webster and his family.Debs Webster and his family are still in South Dakota. They’ve made it through The Badlands. If you’d like to readabout their experiences in The Badlands, you can read about it HERE.Now it’s on to visit the amazing Mount Rushmore.

From GoogleMaps.com

As we look at this map showing the distance from The Badlands to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, we need to keep in mind that Interstate 90 was not there in 1952. I really don’t know the route my Grandpa Debs and his family travelled. Did they travel to Rapid City on their way? That would make sense to me as that would be a great place to stop for supplies, etc.Unfortunately, I don't have any personal information about or photos from their visit to this iconicnational treasure. We'll just have to imagine what these recent immigrants thought asthey gazed up in awe at this magnificent sculpture formed on the side of a mountain.Here are some interesting facts about Mount Rushmore (taken from the Mount Rushmore National Park Service website).

Over 90% of Mount Rushmore was carved using dynamite

The sculpture cost $989,992.32

Mount Rushmore took 14 years to build ~ from October 4, 1927 - October 31,1941

Gutzon Borglum and 400 workers created the sculpture

And now for some fun photos of this remarkable monument!

Through TunnelNational Parks Service Image - No CopyrightClick to Enlarge

Mount Rushmore and Avenue of FlagsNational Parks Service Image - No CopyrightClick to Enlarge

Mount RushmoreNational Parks Service Image - No CopyrightClick to Enlarge

Full View of Mount RushmoreNational Parks Service Image - No CopyrightClick to Enlarge

Mount Rushmore at NightNational Parks Service Image - No CopyrightClick to Enlarge

I hope you’ve enjoyed our visit to the Mount Rushmore National Memorial.The next stop for Debs Webster and his family is Yellowstone National Park. And yes, this stop on their cross-country trip will include old family photos from Grandpa Debs' photo album.Thanks for reading!Jana

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Welcome to Part 3 of Arthur’s On the Job! This will be our last installment in this series. But, don’t worry, I have more photos and stories about Arthur Harry Iverson to share with you in the future. If you've missed the first two installments you can read them HERE and HERE.This photo shows Arthur hard at work on a vintage car. I’m not sure what kind of equipment he is using. Could it be some type of diagnostic tool?
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Arthur Harry Iverson at Work as a MechanicClick to Enlarge

In the following photo I’ve zoomed in on the equipment Arthur was using. Unfortunately, the photo quality isn’t high enough to see what the words are on top of the equipment.

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Equipment Arthur was UsingClick to Enlarge

Thank you for joining me on this three-part tour of Arthur Harry Iverson at work as a mechanic. Until next time….Thanks for reading!Jana

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

“The unthinkable has happened!” Those are the words I wrote as I began writing about 9/11 in my journal. I can’tbelieve it’s really been eleven years now since it happened. Thomas MacEntee of GeneaBloggers suggested we write a post recalling our memories of that horrific day.I live on the West Coast. I was awake when 9/11 happened, getting ready for the day. FoxNews was on our TV. An alert came on saying a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. We thought it was justa terrible accident. But then the next plane crashed into the other tower. My husband saw it happen live on TV. Then we knew it was no accident. We were being attacked.We watched this all unfold as if mesmerized. I wrote in my journal that I felt like I was in a nightmare. I was in shock. I went through the motions of getting the kids to school but was gripped with fear of what had just happened.

Our five kids ranged in age back then from high school age down to elementary school. I remember taking my youngest kids to elementary school and as we were waiting out on the playgroundfor the bell to ring, a strange and foreign thought ran through my mind. The vague thought of concern about planes that were in our skies that morning. We live not too far from an AirNational Guard station. Also our city airport isn't too far away. I really wasn't too concerned about our little corner of the world, but still.

After coming home from taking thekids to school, I was of course glued to the television, watching the horrific and unbelievable events of the day taking place.

Then there was the void of airplanes in the sky inthe coming days. That was very eerie.

Because we live close to an Air National Guard Fighter Wing, those planes kept flying, but no commercialplanes were in the air. One of my sons, who was in elementary school at the time, wokeup at 4:00 am on Wednesday morning. He woke me up and said he heard an airplane - he was scared. I toldhim that it was the military—that it was one of ours. I wrote in my journal, “Isn’t thatpathetic that I would have to say those words to one of my children?”

Our world has changed since9/11. Our sense of security has changed as well. We had the attack at Pearl Harbor, but thatwas a generation or two ago. Now our generation has it’s own attack on U.S. soil to remember.

Ihope that we will always remember 9/11 and those who perished that day, as well as those who risked their lives trying to save others.

And I hope we remember those in the military, some who have made the ultimate sacrifice, who willingly serve so that we can enjoyfreedom and safety.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Sepia Saturday provides an opportunityfor genealogy bloggers to share their family history through photographs.Today’s Sepia Saturday photo shows three elegantly dressed people wearing and/or holding three hats. To be moreexact, the two ladiesare wearing their hats and the gentleman is holding his hat.So, here’s my amazinglysimilar photo I have to share with you today. It’s a photo of my Grandmother Sarah Vasques MadeiraWebster (right) standing with my Great-Grandaunt Crecenciana Aurora Matus Villatoro Reinacherand her husband Theodor Reinacher.
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Left to Right -

Crecenciana Matus Villatoro Reinacher,

Theodor Reinacher and

Sarah Vasques Madeira Webster

﻿While it's true that my three relatives are not posed exactly as those in the Sepia Saturday photo, andmay not be quite as elegantly dressed, they are each in possession of a hat, makinga total of three hats. And my photo does have three people in it. And two of thepeople are wearing their hats and the other one is holding a hat, just like in theSepia Saturday photo. (Okay, so do I win this week’s prize for posting the most similarphoto to the Sepia Saturday photo?? What? There is no prize? Oh well, that’salright.)Actually, having this photo in our family's possession is a prize in itself.Here's a little informationabout those pictured in my photo ~My regular readers may remember who my Grandmother Sarah is standing on the right in this photo. I’ve writtenseveral posts about her including a previous Sepia Saturday post. She was marriedto my Grandpa Debs Webster. And they were my mom's parents.Now I’d like to introduce you to Crecenciana Aurora Matus Villatoro. Crecenciana wasone of the sisters of Esther Matus Villatoro who was married to my Great-GrandpaWatson (Frederick) Webster (a.k.a. The Traveling Dentist).Esther and Frederick were the parents of my Grandpa Debs Webster, so Crecencianawas an aunt to my Grandpa Debs. (I’m sorry if this is all very confusing…no therewon’t be a test later.)Crecenciana was born in Arriaga, Chiapas, Mexico on September 14, 1906 and later movedto Brazil. I wonder if she moved to Brazil to be closer to her sister Esther.On April 4, 1932Crecenciana Matus Villatoro and Theodor Reinacher were married in Sao Paulo,Sao Paulo, Brazil.Crecenciana also went by the name Chana. My mom has fond memories of her Great-Aunt Chana.Following the death of my Grandma Sarah Webster (my mom's mother), Aunt Chana took care of my mom for a while. My mom was only six years old at the time of her mother's death.Below is a photoshowing Aunt Chana’s front yard in Brazil.
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Crecenciana's Front Yard in Brazil

My mom wrote on the back of the photo ~

“Aunt Chana’s Front Yard. I used to play here when I stayed here after my mother Sarah’s death.”